Strike the Tent

The Last Confederate is a film conceived and brought to the screen by its star Robert Adams. Apparently with considerable help from the South Carolina Film Commission and state government. It certainly presents the Confederate cause in the best possible light, something of particular interest to South Carolina since it was those folks who were the first to secede and get the drums beating out a fast tempo.

After saying that it's also a good romantic film showing the love of star Adams's great great grandfather Julian Adams and his Yankee sweetheart from Pennsylvania played by Gwendolyn Edwards. With flashbacks to the Ante Bellum period we see Adams in the last days of the war knowing full well the cause was lost, but as he says it they're now fighting for a way of life. Of course the question of slavery is kind of glossed over as you would expect.

As romance however the film is first rate. After being taken prisoner and spending time in Elmira, the Union's Andersonville Adams and two friends escape and go to Pennsylvania because that's not what his captors would think he would do and because Edwards has fled there to be with her grandfather, an aged Mickey Rooney. Rooney his scenes mostly in bed delivers a fine performance, a man you can watch live almost his entire almost century life on the big and small screen.

The romance has some real poignancy to it. The film was shot on a lot of actual locations for the story. As history many will find it suspect.

Very well done, especially considering the budget. I liked the independent, realistic feel to it, vs manufactured or contrived Hollywoodism.

I read somewhere a reviewer saying that this was "revisionist history" wrt this movie's depiction of how the slave owners treated their slaves so nicely. Absolutely untrue... there really wasn't that much depiction of slave owners with slaves to begin with, and to see one white gentleman actually talk nicely to a few slaves was totally believable.

That same reviewer also said this movie was about "nostalgia" for the pre-war south. But I think it was more about southerners protecting their tradition, and then finally knowing when to surrender (hence the title "Strike the Tent"). Otoh, the extra featurette on the DVD about how the film was conceived did show that Julian's intention was to proudly depict his much beloved, land-owning family history.

The film depicts pre-war southern life favorably, yet doesn't demonize the north (much), even after it's clear that the south had lost the war and had to free their slaves. It was a good depiction of one side "protecting their own", but pretty much intentionally blind to the issue of slavery itself. An interesting "real life" depiction of real history--at least from a southern, white-man's point of view.

Strike the Tent is a beautifully shot film that captures the external and internal conflict of the civil war and a families history of the period. Julian Adams shows strong acting ability in portraying the story of his family and the tough choices that have to be made for love and country.

I enjoyed the pace of the movie and have to comment again on the impressive cinematography. I can't tell but if this was shot digitally and transfered kudos to the production team in the final print. The story tells how true love overcomes all obstacles in its way. The film effectively captures a country split ideologically, socially and geographically and the plight of South Carolinians protecting their home and lands from the onslaught of war, illness and tyranny. It depicts the weary soldiers seeking not only victory but revenge and the plunders of war. Tragic in its honest depiction of the sacrifices both armies and families had to endure. In the end, the love that is all but impossible is the only thing that will never die in this historical memoir. Thanks again for sharing this remarkable story of your family. I look forward to seeing the film again once it is released on DVD. I enjoyed this first effort and look forward to other projects from these promising film makers.

The story is based on a true person (although only a corporal in real life portrayed as a captain). The family connection of the writer and actors was appreciated. The movie had unnecessary cursing and a sex scene, all of which could have been omitted and the story would have been enhanced. These "modern" devices insult the imagination and taste of viewers like me. My Christian family could have enjoyed it without these elements. The story and action stalled about three quarters of the way through, kind of like a sermon gone too long.

Appreciated the inclusion of a "Copperhead" character, a Northerner who had sentiment for the Southern society and cause. There were a multitude of these "Southern sympathizers" throughout the North, but one would be hard-pressed to find such facts in history books. Good movie except for the elements already mentioned.

A noble cause in wanting to make this film by the family of John Adams, but uh boy, there are serious script flaws, lack of believability in some of the characters due to sub-par acting (by Julian Adams, mainly), continuity problems, and a wardrobe that at times looks like it came out of a cracker-jacks box. This film is billed as being filled with passion and being "explosive", according to one IMDb reviewer. I think dead people are more passionate and explosive! I don't know why this film is getting so many positive reviews, it's really not good at all. I'm only giving it 3 stars myself out of consideration for the family's desire to tell the story of their heritage (assuming it is all true, but I've found nothing on the history of Robert Adams anywhere else but in this film, so who knows how much of the movie is historically accurate).

Even if you're a civil war history buff, this film will likely barely hold your interest (if at all).

Sorry, Adams family. Nothing personal, I'm just calling it like I see it.